Archive for February, 2014

Every once in a while, I like to let my readers see How I go about creating one of my Batik/Rozome paintings. First off, My readers ask “What is Rozome?” The easiest way I can explain it is that Rozome is a wax and dye resist process similar to Batik, but using Japanese bamboo brushes to paint the soy/beeswax onto the fabric, while a different style of bamboo brush pushes the dye into the dampened silk fabric, rather than immersing it in a dye tank.

For this painting I selected a photograph I took of a male Wood Duck that was take by me last spring at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Central Florida.

This beautiful park features all animals that are found in the state of Florida with the exception of “Lu “, the Hippo, an honorary citizen. You can see all sorts of wonderful birds, manatees, otters, alligators and much more. Well worth a visit!

I then enlarged my photograph so that I could make a large line drawing to work from. I used this drawing to serve as a road map for my project. Working from the drawing, I transferred the lines onto a large piece of silk, creating my own drawing on the fabric. Then, after stretching the panel to keep it taught, I applied a layer of soy and beeswax to the areas that were to remain white. Gradually, I would wax over each successive color from light to dark as you can see from these works in progress photos. (I did the most of the background first before I went back in and worked on the duck).

During this process, I am following the hundreds of fine lines I drew on the back of the fabric so I could created the water effects (My friends think I am nuts). I am still waxing as each value of color is painted onHere you can see the darker tones are gradually being added.

Here is the piece almost ready to be ironed out to remove the wax.

After I have removed most of the wax by ironing and blotting, I then roll the piece up in several layers of newsprint like a jellyroll and steam it for three hours in a converted Turkey fryer. Removing the piece from the newsprint, I then rinse it in a chemical bath to remove any excess dye before I press it dry. The painting is then ready for a photograph and to frame it!